SHOEING FOR FORM, FUNCTION AND NO PRESSURE

Transcription

1 Volume 12: Issue 1 SHOEING FOR FORM, FUNCTION AND NO PRESSURE Doug Workman, CJF This is a show Hunter that has just finished a long show season. He has come into my life for a little light training and to let mind, body and feet have a much needed break. The life of a show horse being what it is, the farriers that work on them during the show season really have their hands full keeping these horses showing and sound. The fact that the horses have limited turnout, two to three baths a day and a variety of footing to deal with makes keeping them sound a tough job. My hat is off to these farriers. I was very fortunate on this day to have my good friend, Patrick Bone, to help me. Patrick and I have been working together a long time and I consider it a privilege to have him work with me on any horse. Normally we would be in a hurry to get done so we could take the rest of the day to go fishing, but the boat was in the shop for repair. So we pulled out the camera, put on our aprons and dove in. The first thing we looked at is the overall conformation of the horse and how he is shod. He is not the straightest legged horse we had ever seen, but we both have seen worse. You can also see where he has been nerved in the past. He was shod Continued on page 2 Above: Various Views prior to shoeing, notice signs of nerving procedure in image to far left. 1

2 Continued from Cover just as you would expect, a little extra foot and a hunter fit (spot on). Since we had the luxury of a break from show biz we could think in terms of more support and gathering up the feet. We just want to make sure that we put the foot in the center of the leg and the foot and leg in the center of the shoe. The front feet were shod in aluminum as all hunters are and fit spot on. A very safe job. After removing the shoes and removing the dead sole we trim the frog removing any dirt traps and finding the true apex of the frog (where the frog meets the live sole). We now use the trimmed frog as the foundation to start our trim. My goal is to have the widest part of the foot parallel with each other approximately 1/2 to 3/8 behind the true apex of the frog after the trim. Also, I want to be as equal as possible medially and laterally across this same point (widest part of the foot). The heels should be equal length and back as close to the highest and widest part of the frog as I can get. The main thing that I keep in mind is that these are goals and I do not want to over prep the feet to achieve them. After I have trimmed the feet as close to this protocol as I can, I will use the shoe choice and placement to compensate for any deviations that I come across. For this horse we decided to go to steel to give a more stable base of support since we are fitting with a little more length and width. To compensate for having more foot medially or laterally, I fit the shoe as if both halves are equal and box and safe the shoe on the narrow side. This is not always possible due to environment or job, but you can generally give a little help. To address anterior/posterior deviations I start at the widest part of the foot again. I want to have equal amount of foot in front of and behind this point. I m not a big proponent of totally unloading the toe wall of the foot. I generally set my shoes back a little, but I want the toe wall bearing and supporting weight. As you can see on these feet the white line appears stretched or stressed. By using the widest part of a properly trimmed foot as a landmark, I do not have to guess where to put my toe, it gives me a destination. Once again these are goals that I m trying to achieve, not hard and fast rules. By having a set foundation to work from, I m better able to see the successes or failures of my work Trimmed frog to locate true apex 5, 6, 7 - Trimmed to reach goals for balance and form 8, 9 - On ground we can evaluate angles and alignment 10, 11, 12, 13 - Shod with SX-8 clipped steel, notice additional support of fit in 12 and

3 the market s best rasps &files are available at your local farrierproducts dealer BELLOTA RASPS AND FILES Bellota continues to apply new methods of quality control and sharpness testing to their files and rasps. Designed and manufactured for professional farriers, all Bellota products provide superior results at the lowest possible cost. 12 Points of Reference: The Knee By Dave Farley, CF and Roy Bloom, CJF The 12 points of Reference article printed in the last issue of the Natural Angle, combined with the 12 points DVD "is a winning combination. We both use these steps on every horse we trim. Each of the 12 points can be linked to each other. We have all heard the statement, Every action has a reaction. This is a very important statement when compared to the bones and joints in the lower limb of every animal we trim. Each digit of the lower limb could be normal for that particular equine. Likewise, there are several abnormal conformation faults possible for each digit in the lower limb of any horse. The more normal the conformation the easier to trim and shoe, if we pay attention and keep the limb balanced for that animal. The more deviation or abnormal the conformation of each bone and joint in the limb, the more important it is to properly trim and maintain that limb for the longevity of that animal. MERCURY HOOF RASPS - NEW! Produced according to the highest standards, the position of the teeth on the rasp side and the unique composition of steel ensures this rasp will stay sharp longer. Above: Knees are turned out, however the foot is trying to be straight. This has resulted in a twist of the pastern and places the entire leg inside of center. 3

4 The Natural Angle As you learn each of the 12 points, you will think of a particular animal you work on and start to wonder. if you have done the best trim that you can. Proper trimming will improve the health of the limb as well as the health of the horse. If you improve the trim you will also improve the ability of that animal. If you improve the ability you will have a happy horse and a happy owner. Remember, every action has a reaction! The first point of reference is the knee. We mentioned that the knee dictates the direction of breakover of that limb. As with each of the 12 points, we believe it is important to observe the horse at the walk as well as standing. Watch the limb as the horse walks toward you. Notice the action of the front limbs. Where is the knee in relation to the rest of the limb? Is the knee in the center of the limb (normal); as the horse moves, the knee breaks straight without the limb swinging in or out? Is it base narrow; toed out, as the knee breaks, the limb moves inward toward the center of the body, and the hoof swings toward the opposite leg? Is it base wide; toed in and as the limb breaks over it rotates out and the hoof wings outwards? After the horse is standing, we like to walk around the animal. Is the knee flat (normal) or is it angled out (base narrow) or angled in (base wide)? While this may seem a little confusing at first, a really cool thing will start to happen! After you watch a few horses move, and focus on the knee you will be able to predict the conformation of the rest of the limb before the animal gets closer to you. You will also be able to predict the wear on the hoof or shoe before you pick up a leg! Right: Knees are turned out, feet follow knees and are turned out, leg is centered under knee and above foot. Moreoptions for a perfect fit from Kerckhaert - the brand you trust NEW! ALUMINUM CENTURY SUPPORT UNCLIPPED When the shoeing style and the foot shape demand a narrower shape with less width in the toe, the Kerckhaert Aluminum Century Support unclipped series is the perfect fit. Punched for 5 Race and 5 Slim nails, these shoes provide excellent heel support with no bevel or roll in the toe. KERCKHAERT CLIPPED TRIUMPH LITE STEEL - NOW AVAILABLE WITH CLIPS Farriers and owners appreciate the beautiful proportions of this shoe, which is ideal for the smaller foot with its lighter section of steel. Perfect for the Quarter Horse and Hunter. Visit to view the full line of Kerckhaert Horseshoes. 4

5 THE NATURAL ANGLE is published to provide you with new and useful information about the industry. It is published through a cooperative effort of Vector Horseshoe Nails, Bloom Forge, FPD, Kerckhaert Shoes, Vettec and your supplier. Articles in this publication are the property of The Natural Angle and cannot be reprinted without express permission. For information concerning reprints, please contact Dan Burke, FPD, P.O. Box 1328, Shelbyville, KY or fpd@farrierproducts.com. If you have questions, comments or ideas concerning the articles published in the Natural Angle, please contact your distributor. We welcome your input. The Natural Angle is designed and edited by Graphic Response. 5

6 it s not magic. JUST GREAT DESIGN. New Products» The Vector Horseshoe Nail line has expanded into the traction market with two sizes of V-Trak nails - 5 City and 4-1/2 Race. The hard facing on the head of the nails is much more secure than other brands and the prices are very competitive. The V-Trak nails are packed in 100 piece boxes. Are you using the right nail? Contact a farrierproducts dealer near you for more information. Nails not shown at actual size. The FootPro 12", 14" Race Track, and 15" Polished Nippers are sure to be an asset to every professional farrier. They are competitively priced and are backed by our quality service and standard warranty. Other new products include Mercury Hoof Rasps and Kerckhaert Aluminum Century Support Unclipped. More ways to find FPD» FPD has recently unveiled a new website design. The new design offers easy access to information on the extensive line of horse shoes, tools and other farrier products available through the farrierproducts dealers. Visit the educational side of the site for useful tips and tricks of the trade and great video clips. While you are on the site be sure to sign up to receive important industry information. Check it out at - and see what the buzz is all about. Find more educational videos on our YouTube accounts: and